Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 50

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

I don't see 19.95 worth of superiority.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Well, the international shipping was available for a few days... that's how I managed to place my order. However, considering the shipping costs and the UPS fees that come on top (which for me, as I've mentioned before in this thread ended up being $110 for a $80 order inc. $20 shipping) it's pretty pointless and I was not intending to make any further orders anyway. With that in mind I would like to think that international shipping has been suspended until they figure out a better solution. However, knowing how it works out with most other "US only" stuff that media companies put out I'm actually not expecting this to ever become available again to international customers. I suppose if a movie shows up here that interests me I'll have to bother my friends living in the US to order it for me...

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

BUT, how they interact with me as a customer or others on a customer service basis will go a very long way towards determining whether or not I buy their goods to begin with or whether or not I continue to spend my $$$$ on their goods!

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

It would depend on the title and if it was worth it to you, along with the size of your display. I was just pointing out that the 1.33:1 titles are superior, if only slightly, over recordings from TCM. The anamorphic titles are a different matter, as I'm sure they are far superior.

Did you notice how Joan's eyes are almost brown in the capture in the blue dress when compared to how blue they are on the DVD? The TCM broadcast looks a bit smeary in comparison, which is more noticeable the larger the display and in a direct A/B comparison with the Warner Archive disc.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

Which is why I phrase my initial comment as the following:


Being "more careful" in my future Archive purchases is not saying "I won't buy any more Archive titles I have currently on DVD-R" and it's also the prudent thing to do depending on certain circumstances.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

To be honest I think many of you are being unreasonable. Most of the films on the list aren't going to make it out unless they go this route. If you use a sale or code then it's not going to cost you the full price per DVD. If the film is that important to you then you'll probably get it. It's a different world now and eventially all will be download anyway and I doubt the quality will get better for these older movies. I'm just happy to see them out so I can pick and choose. Life is short and I don't get the I'll wait for it in pristine quality or won't get it thought. Are you in it for the collecting of stacks of DVD's or do you really want to watch the films?

The DVD captures look much better in my opinion than the TCM shots. I mean really what do you want for these films? I think you guys forget that you are a very small voice in a much larger world.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The Lex Barker Tarzans, which had been scheduled to be shown on TCM in July are no longer listed on the schedule.

If one were a conspiracy theorist one could assume that Warner had these pulled because they realized that a <$1 home recording of these airings would be approximately the same quality that a $20 archive DVD would be.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Steve,

Thanks for the news although it's bad for me. I was counting on those TCM broadcasts.

Being from Dallas, maybe I'm seeing that 2nd figure behind that fence on the grassy knoll

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I kind of doubt that the assumption is true. TCM often airs films at the time of their DVD release -- for example: they aired all the titles in the latest FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD set a day or so prior to its release.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I don't doubt it at all. Steve and Jeff have the right idea on this one, IMHO.

Gary "I'm really bummed about the TCM schedule change" O.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

Even $15 is too much for an interlaced transfer. The combing you get on a fixed pixel display (plasma, LCD, etc.) usually makes such a DVD unwatchable, and most of us now have a fixed pixel display.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I fully expect TCM to show rarely, if at all, the films that currently are in the Warner Archive. They've been showing films from Columbia and UA the past few years, and have new licensing agreements with Paramount, Fox, and Universal, so they can totally pull this off.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Posted by Van 594:
Posted by Steve…O:
I have to agree with Van 594 on this. The Archive titles I have purchased have looked way better than TCM DVD-Rs that I have made. If TCM were a High-def channel, that might not be so, but as of now it is definitely so (IMO), particularly with widescreen films.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I'm sure it will get better but Warner hasn't even addressed the interlaced transfer issue which should have been the quickest to resolve. The website bugs are another thing that should have already been fixed. We expect more from Warner and are more dissapointed and frustrated than angry.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Since WHV/WB has gone "out of the box," so to speak, with the Archive program I suggest they continue their mind expansion with a opportunity for us to create our own "box-sets" from inventory they're currently dumping at places like Big Lots. I don't have a Big Lots nearby but, from what I read in the Bargains thread, WB is closing out all kinds of stuff most of us would be interested in. Why not offer us-the most loyal & best customers- first pick on what they're "dumping" on the market? Post a list of the various DVDs being discontinued and allow us to pick 5 or 6 as a "box set" for a reasonable price. I don't need the actual paperboard slipcover box, just the cased DVDs themselves.
I think this would be a win/win situation.
I'm just suggesting-there's always inventory to move....
Administrators-If this merits a separate thread please move.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Chuck,

Thanks for those excellent screen grab comparisons. From what I see, I go along with Crawdaddy on this one. The WB DVD-R's are an improvement (imo) from the TCM grabs but it's not enough for me to buy the WB's at the current pricepoints. But I understand anyone that buys their must-haves from the archive list.

Another reason for me that I haven't jumped in on the archive selections is that, for me, I haven't seen anything that would get me over the fence to buy, at least, not yet. But that's understandable for me as I'm primarilry a TV/DVD collector and the few films that I'm wanting aren't owned by WB.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

Understandable and I am the same way with high priced electronics, automobiles, etc......... not so much with $10-$25 software. Then again I've never really had a bad customer service experience with the few software titles I've had an issue with.


funny thing is, I don't have to plunk down $15-$25 for an Archive to watch most of these films. For instance I've got my trusty DVR fired up set to record Carbine Williams tonight on TCM. No reason to collect a stack of overpriced DVD-R's.


Mileage definitely varies. I see little difference between the two.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I think a problem Warner is going to face is that their $20 DVD-Rs are going to be doing battle with a group of illegal people selling the same stuff for $10. Just checking Amazon, Ebay and various other places shows that there are some crooked people trying to push this stuff at a cheaper price. It seems certain "series" releases are coming up all over the place, which can't sit too well with Warner, Fox or any other studio. I'm still waiting on their release of The Bowery Boys and I really hope they don't try selling them in this program for $20 a pop.

My frustration with this is growing day by day just like my frustration of new movies not getting a Blu-ray release yet they are on SD. These two items are really making me reconsider everything I'm buying and for me I'm just going to have to go for the cheapest route. As of now, TCM is a lot cheaper than this program. I really hope upcoming titles don't get pulled just so people are forced to buy these overpriced disc. If that's the case, I will just find a cheaper way to watch them. Perhaps viewing stuff online is the future and if their site offers this up at a cheaper price perhaps I'll go that way.

Up until the past 1 1/2 years, I bought every box set Warner released. It didn't matter if I knew the films or not. Obviously this had to come to an end but them spoiling me with such great releases is why I can't just on this program. Again, until they offer something up that I can't get elsewhere.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Has anyone actually watched one of the new titles beyond the first 150 to see if this is resolved yet?

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Double post.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

I see the difference between VHS and DVD. If that's not worth 19.95 (or whatever the current deal is), then fine. But it is a significant improvement.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The titles i have purchased from the archive that i already have recorded on dvd-r ,from tcm , are vastly superior . Picture is sharper and much cleaner looking for the most part. With that said , i still wish they were pressed dvds and were cheaper per disc. But until that happens ,as long as they keep up the coupon codes, i will still pick up titles i really want .

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I think the TCM shots are better than VHS quality, but the DVD-R is definitely superior in detail, sharpness, focus, whatever you want to call it. That's pretty obvious. For most titles, not worth $19.95 or $15 more for me though.

I have to honestly evaluate the fact that most of these (and many other discs that I already own for that matter) I would probably watch one time and seldom revisit. For that, the TCM broadcast or a rental of the DVD-R would be more appropriate. Too many other things to watch, too little time.

Re: *** Official Warner Archive DVD Review Thread

So do I, but I don't see such a difference between my DVD-R and the one I bought from Warner Archive. Granted, it's only one title that I'm talking about here and it's a black and white film made in 1938.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Movies Unlimited.
growing up in Philly in the late 70's this was the first video
rental store I can remember.
they had everything.
There was one location then and we would drive all the way up there just to rent movies in northeast philly.

My friend won $1000 from a local radio station, WIFI 92 fm
on a secret sound contest and they bought a VCR.
that thing was a tank and they were the only people
in the neighborhod with a vcr.

Good times.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Mostly, I think a lot of people are missing the point with the Warner Archive, they have solved a huge industry problem and made available to "fans" the widest selection of titles ever. I think what we are seeing is the future business model and as the president of a company that tries to look forward at all times I can see it clear as day.

I think the "disc" be it DVD, Blu-Ray, or the compact disc for music is DEAD. Done, gone, about as relevant as the 8-track.

As retail sales plummet and these stores close (Circuit City-GONE, Borders-Dumping their inventory of DVD, Blu, and CD as other stores will follow suit) the way for a company like Warner to sell their product is direct and by cutting out the "shipping" guys too as shipping costs increase.

It will soon be all about the download, a box that sits in your "entertainment" room that you download your selections into. No more production costs, shipping costs, retail middle men...these guys will all sell to us direct. Done deal and it allows them to create their highest profit margin ever.

People here are worried about the quality of the "discs" Warner is selling when the end result will be the "discs" will soon disappear.

I think the people who are getting the worst "hosing" are those that bought into Blu-Ray a format that is sure to be very short lived. Just look at the fact that the technology is there right now to replace Blu and that you no longer have to take up space in your home storing discs...that's the ticket and note that the Warner Archive already allows you to download at a lower cost.

I say this as somebody that has always loved collecting "albums" and films but we have seen the end of actually holding a physical product in our hands and I can't believe that on this website more people are not pointing that out.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

There will have to be significant investment/upgrade/expansion of the telecommunications systems nationwide before a significant majority of the buying public is able to shift to an all-download model. Given the current economy, and what is likely to be a very slow recovery, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Downloads will mostly effect the rental market. The sell through market will be dented/reshaped, but it's hardly dead. Blu-ray is already well beyond the saturation of download media for ownership.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Much sooner than you think, Malcolm. All the signs point to the end being very soon for discs and I suspect a huge slow down of their production is imminent. With retail collapsing and the remaining stores reducing inventory the source to get your "discs" will soon be on-line only and I expect that to come with cost increases that will kill that avenue as well. Also these discs have already been given the title of one of the worlds most wasteful products...that spells big trouble for discs of any kind.